When the sound of a train whistle pierces the air as it passes through Guttenberg, resident Barb Leitgen often reflects on a childhood memory of a horrific car and train collision near St. Mary's Church in Guttenberg.

Leitgen vividly recalls the time, date and place of the accident. "I remember a train calling its whistle on Sunday, June 13, at quarter to ten, in 1946," she said. "I was in St. Mary's Church and we heard a terrible, terrible crash — crunching metal — during the service."

The Guttenberg city council at a short monthly meeting on May 10 heard a hospital update, granted requests from the Chamber of Commerce for summer events and made plans for a special meeting on May 22.

Mayor Russ Loven called the meeting to order with council members Austin Greve, Fred Schaub, Jane Parker, Virginia Saeugling and Steve Friedlein in attendance, along with Assistant City Manager Jamie Blume and City Attorney Michael Schuster.

Dr. Dave Connell, left, received a check from Cheryl Meyer on behalf of the Paws on Your Heart Endowment Fund as Mayor Russ Loven looked on. Loven welcomes donations to the City for care of feral animals. (Press photo by Melissa Spielbauer-Combs)

By Molly Moser

A new endowment fund supporting disadvantaged pets and their owners has decided to give its first payout to the Guttenberg Veterinary Clinic in light of the clinic’s charity work with local animals. The vet clinic, owned by Dr. David Connell, has long acted as a shelter by caring for homeless and mistreated dogs and cats.

Vic and Kay Vifian grow produce all year round in their high tunnel greenhouse. (Press photo by Molly Moser)

By Molly Moser

Vic and Kay Vifian have had a lifetime in education – he as a teacher in Garnavillo and she as a nurse leading Lamaze and breast feeding classes, as a school nurse, and eventually as the first coordinator for the Family Resource Center in Guttenberg.

St. Mary/Immaculate Conception alumni committee invites all those who attended St. Mary High School and St. Mary Immaculate Conception Grade School to the annual alumni banquet on Saturday, June 3, at St. Mary’s Brinkmann Hall in Guttenberg.

The Heritage Room opens at 4 p.m. Mass will be offered at 5:30 p.m. St. Mary's choir will present a prelude of songs showcasing "music of our heritage" beginning at 5 p.m. Social hour and dinner will follow Mass in Brinkman Hall. Dinner tickets are $10.